I got it on my 2nd try. The first time I had to turn back due to weather on memorial day weekend 2005. I started at horse camp this time and made it to the summit in 51/2 hours. I was the first one on top and had the summit to myself for about a 1/2 hour. What a great mountain.

Skinned up @ 3AM or so from Bunny Flat. Picked up my partner (Nice French fellow on Rando gear, his name eludes me) in the basin at the base of the West Face Gully. We skinned up but had to kick steps for the last 500' or so. I don't recall if we used crampons or not. We ended up leaving our skis at the top of Misery Hill, before the summit block. The skiing down Misery Hill is the worst I've ever done - complete survival snowboarding for me, and I am a very competent steep-chute snowboarder. The exact opposite of fun. Recommend crampons & feet for this section, leave your skis at the base of Misery.

West Face Gully itself was an endless beautiful run and the highlight of the trip. Back at the car by 4pm, after French fellow took an hour or so to pack up his overnight gear at his base camp. 4:00 PM or so return? 11+ hours RT.

We had 33 climbers from Venture Crew 249 Moraga California and Troop 341 Oakland California. We divided the group into four groups to keep the team size at 10 or below. The day was glorious and the weather perfect. We had 22 successful summiters out of the group, but all accomplished our goal of "taking a look at the mountain."

Camped at horse camp (7880 ft). Started summit bid at 1:30 am and summitted at around 10:45 am. Able to glissade most of the way down. Humbling experience! Great mountain! wonderful people! Will go again!

Got blown off last year, came back and just cruised it. Route still in great shape but it is getting hot down at Lake Helen. Alpine start at 3, summit at 9:30, back at car 3p. The stone causeway to Horse Camp is total bullshit and it just ruined me and everyone else I spoke to! Other than the spine and toe compressing walk down to Horse Camp it was a perfect trip, sun, summit and satisfaction! Go now if you are thinking about Shasta this year...time is running out!!

2.26amstart from Horse Camp, over the Scree and up to Helen Lake. Met "eggheadsherpa" at Misery Hill and reached summit at 10.28. Stayed for 45 mins while the clouds came in, and glissaded most of the way down. back to the car at Bunny Flat for 3pm.

After emerging from The Avenue under a full moon, I followed snow up to 12000' and proceeded up a miserable slog over loose talus until 14000'. After smugly crossing the snowfield in joining up with the AG route, I scrambled up the summit pinnacle to the right of the main trail. People, this was easily the most fun part of the trip, why would you rather walk up worn out switchbacks? Strict adherence to the path easily followed is a paradoxical approach to what is supposed to be an adventurous sport. I find it a little sad that everyone automatically takes the AG dog route, not that CC is any harder...

The summit was packed of course. I talked to a nice guy for a while and then beat it down to my own world back on CC. I enjoyed 4000' of glissading down to The Avenue, where I saw my own footprints from the way up. Imagine, solitude on Mt. Shasta...take that all you AGer's!

After emerging from The Avenue under a full moon, I followed snow up to 12000' and proceeded up a miserable slog over loose talus until 14000'. After smugly crossing the snowfield in joining up with the AG route, I scrambled up the summit pinnacle to the right of the main trail. People, this was easily the most fun part of the trip, why would you rather walk up worn out switchbacks? Strict adherence to the path easily followed is a paradoxical approach to what is supposed to be an adventurous sport. I find it a little sad that everyone automatically takes the AG dog route, not that CC is any harder...

The summit was packed of course. I talked to a nice guy for a while and then beat it down to my own world back on CC. I enjoyed 4000' of glissading down to The Avenue, where I saw my own footprints from the way up. Imagine, solitude on Mt. Shasta...take that all you AGer's!

Gave it a try, despite the GIANT wet snowstorm that never let up. Tried to wait it out, but no one summitted this weekend. Despite this the mountain was beautiful and I won't ever forget this magical place.

Snow down to 8500ft. Made it quickly to Horse Camp but the going was slow after that up to Helen Lake. Nice camp spot on rocks. 4am apline start the next day with perfect conditions. Snow all though the Red Banks but Misery Hill was clear. A few snow patches along the ridge 'til the summit, but no crampons or axe were needed after Red Banks. Bitter cold wind the entire day, especially up high, but clear skies. 2500ft of exhilirating glissading back to Lake Helen where we packed out and slid down another drainage until the snow ran out. Truly an amazing experience.

Trained in May for a climb in June that was postponed 'till July. Worked 9 shifts in 7 days leading up to this trip. My preparations need some work. I could have used a bit more time to get some sleep beforehand.